Water skiing apparatus



March 5,: 1963 T. c. COOKE 3,079,835

WATER SKIING APPARATUS Filed April 27, 1961 United States Patent 3,079,885 WATER SKHNG APPARATUS Theodore (IkCooke, Swampscott, Mass. Filed Apr. 27,1961, Ser. No. 196,114 8 Claims. (Ci. IE-4.1)

My invention relates to improved Watercraft remote controls by means of which a water skier can safely and practicably control his towing craft, both as to steering and as to power changes.

Water skiing is a popularsport which has grown at a phenomenal rate in recent years. Unfortunately, in .the orthodox manner of water skiing, it has been necessary to use a boat which can be operated safely only by using two persons, one who must look forward to operate the boat and another who must look backwardto observe the skier being towed. As a result, there have been attempts to. devise remote control means whereby the operators of the boat may be eliminated, but these attempts, although useful in theory, have been impractical, in that heretofore lmown devices have been too complicated and expensive for theaverage water skier.

Ivly invention solves the problems noted above by providingsimple remote control means for a towing watercraft to permit one-man water skiing.

Additionally, my invention has'for its. object to provide remote means for starting and shutting olf the power unit of the tow craft, as well as controlling its power to increase or decrease speed.

Another object of my invention is to provide a dead man control whereby the power unit will be shut ofi automatically in the event that the skier falls or otherwise drops the handle bar.

. Still another object of my invention is to provide conrol means which are inexpensive and exceedingly simple to use so that the average water skier can use it.

My invention consists'of apower unit, such as an outboard motor installed in a watercraft in a conventional manner for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, and power and steering control means therefor including a transverse operator handle bar to be grasped by the water skier. Briefly, the control of the invention includes a pair of steering lines connected to the watercraft steering means, which lines run astern where they are connected to the transverse handle bar in such a manner that the bar is rotatable without winding up or otherwise shortening the steering lines. Also provided is a control line fixedly attached generally centrally of the handlebar and to the power control means of the power unit in such a manner that rotation of the bar will wind up and so shorten the control line to operate the power unit as desired as to start and stop it and to change its power as desired.

For the purpose of explaining further objects and features of the invention, reference is now made to the following detailed descripution of a preferred embodiment thereof together with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the structure of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the structure of FIG. 1 in straight ahead steering position with the control line in fully extended position;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the structure of FIG. 1 in a turned steering condition with the control line in partially shortened condition;

FIG. 4 is a partial rear view of the structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional detail of the connection of the steering lines to the transverse handle bar of the structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional detail of the connection of the control line to the transverse handle bar of the struc- 2 ture of FIG. 1, with the control line in fully extended position asinFlGS. 1 and 2; and FIG. 7 is a detail like that of FIG. 6 but'with the control line in partially shortened condition as in FIG. 3.

;The power unit, preferably an outboard motor 13, is mounted on the transom of a small watercraft 1t), pref.- erably a catamaran, in the usual manner. According to the present invention, the motor 13 is preferably modified so that its power control means, including its olf switch 11, starter button 17 and throttle arm 15, is located on top-of the unit generally on the horizontal axis of transversely extending steering bars 12 provided on the motor 13 and as near the vertical pivot axis 18 of the motor as is possible. The power controlmeans arm 15 is loaded by a spring 14 ina direction towards it low power and stop direction that is, toward its ,off switch 11 so that the motor normally remains cit. Ann 15 is moved in the opposite direction by a control line 19 which extends astern of the-boat to a connection atthe center 21 of the transverse handle bar 22. The control line 19 is fixedly attached at its outboard end generally centrally of the handle .barat 21 and at its inboard end to-the power controlnrm 15 at its end 16. The bar 22, preferably, is bouyant so as to be easily retrievable in the event it falls into the .water.

The towing or steering lines 2t) are attached to the steering bars 12 mounted on the motor 13. The steering lines .20 run astern to the handle bar 22 and are attached thereto in such a manner as to leave the handle bar rotatable withinthe attaching-devices 23. This may be accomplished by using metal rings 23 formed about grooves in, the handle bar 22,01" other suitable means- The distance between the handle bar 22 and steering bars 12 is fixed and so defines a fixed distance between the motor pivot 18 and the central pivot at. 21 of bar 22. The distance between the handle bar 22 and the end 16 of arm 15is variable,- as the control line 19 can be wound up on the handle bar to shorten it and so move control means 15 in opposition to the spring 14 away from oli switch 11 toward its engine operating positions at starter button 17 and beyond. s 1

'Thus, the arm 15 in its closed position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 contacts 0d switch 11, but as it moves forward it first turns on said switch, next contacts starter button 17 to start motor 13 and thenoperates as the usual throttle control to increase power to a maximum value. This makes it possible remotely to start the power unit by rotating handle bar 22 to wind up control line 19 and then pulling sharply on the bar to engage the starter button 17 with arm 15.

It should be here noted that the reasonI place the power control means 15 as near the pivot 18 as possible is so that the change of distance of the power control arm 15 relative to the handle bar 22 is minimized as. the handle 'bar- 22.is moved to steerthe watercraft 19. Like- Wise, the power control arm 15 is placed on the horizontal axis of the steering bars 22 to minimize the change of distance of the power control arm 15 relative to the handle bar 22 which would otherwise be encountered as the handle bar is raised or lowered.

In practice, the water skier, having placed the watercraft in the water and having put on his water skis, stands in a position in which the tow lines 2%} are fully extended and taut. Then the handle bar 22 is rotated either clockwise or counter-clockwise, as preferred, about its horizontal axis thereby winding the control line 19 onto the handle bar. This procedure is continued until the power control arm 15 permits the off switch 11 to be turned on and meets the button 17 of the automatic starting means. Once the motor 13 is started, the control line 19 is further wound upon the handle bar 22 until the power control means 15 is advanced sufiiciently .1 3 to cause the power unit 13 to propel the watercraft and the skier forward. If greater speed is desired, the

power control arm is further advanced by continuing the rotation of handle bar 22 until the speed considered desirable is attained. By rotating the handle bar 22 in the opposite direction, the spring 14, which urges the power control arm 15 to an off position, ispermitted partially or compietely to shut oi the power, thus redncing or stopping all forward propulsion. In any event, should the skier fall or for any reason release his grip on the handle bar, the spring 14 will urge the power control arm 15 to an 016 position and thus completely shut down the power unit. The starting procedure can then be repeated.

To steer the watercraft, thehandle bar 22 is rotated about a vertical axis at its central point 21, thus exerting a force in the same direction on the steering bars 12 through the steering lines 29 which rotates the power unit 13 or other rotatable steering device about its pivot 1.8. In this manner, the power unit, is moved to control the direction of the watercraft 10 Without afiecting the setting of power control arm 15.

Thus, my invention offers a simpler, safer and more reliable way to control the power unit than the prior art. Remote means are provided to start, stop and control the power of the power unit. Dead-man control is provided. My invention is inexpensive and compact. Moreover, its use is easy to teach. It is further apparent that various modifications, within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims, will occur to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. Water skiing apparatus having control means, adapted to regulate the pivotally mounted outboard marine engine power unit of a power driven watercraft inclding: a transverse handle bar, adapted to be held by a water skier, of fixed distance relative to said power unit; power control means, having a movable element which in its most extended position operates to stop the power unit, and in successively less extended positions operates successively to increase the power of said power unit, said power control means being mounted at the pivot point of said pivotally mounted power unit and on the horizontal axis of steering bars which are fixedly attached to said pivotally mounted power'unit; a spring, fixediyattached at its inboard end to the power unit and at its outboard end to the power control means, said spring urging said power control means to its most extended position; a control line fixedly attached at its outboard end to the pivot point of said handle bar, so that it may be wound thereon, and fixedly attached at its inboard end to said power control means.

2. Water skiing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 with steering means, including: a pair of transversely spaced steering lines rotatably attached at their outboard ends to said handle bar and fixedly attached at their inboard ends to said steering bars; steering bars fixedly attached to said steering lines and to said pivotally mounted power unit; said steering lines also defining the fixed distance between said handle bar and said power unit.

3. Water skiing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said movable element has an intermediate starting position between its most and least extended positions.

4. Water skiing apparatus for use with a motor propelled watercraft having motor control means and steering means, including: a transverse operator bar adapted to be held by a water skier; a pair of transversely spaced extended steering lines rotatably mounted at their outboard ends on said bar in spaced positions adjacent the ends of said bar and at their inboard ends connected to said steering means for operating said steering means in opposite senses by moving one end of said bar a predetermined distance outboard while moving the other end of said bar said predetermined distance inboard to maintain the pivot point of said bar midway between said lines at a predetermined fixed distance from said'water craft; and a control line mounted at its outboard end to the pivot point of said bar and at its inboard end to power control means, said control line being fixedly attached to said transverse bar to be wound around said bar upon rotation of said bar while said steering lines rotate freely on said line to maintain the pivot point of said bar at said fixed distance while shortening said motor control line by rotation of said bar to move the inboard end of said control line relatively to said fixed distance to operate said power control means.

5. Water skiing apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said power control meansincludes a movable element connected to said motor control line, said element in the most extended position of said control line operating to stop the motor of said watercraft and in successively less extended throttling position successively to increase the power of said motor.

- 6. Water skiing apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said movable element has an intermediate motor starting position between the stop position and the throttling position.

' 7. Water skiing apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said movable element is mounted at the pivot point of said steering means and on the horizontal axis of said steering bars.

8. Water skiing apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the motor of said watercraft is an outboard motor pivotally mounted for rotation about a vertical axis for steering control of said watercraft, said motor including a transverse steering bar, and a motor control having spring means urging said control to a stop position away from a motor throttling position, said steering lines being attached to opposite ends of said motor bar to define said fixed distance between said motor pivot point and the pivot point of said transverse operator bar, and said motor control line being attached to said motor control in opposition to said spring means to move said motor control away from its stop position to its throttling position upon rotation of said operatorbar to wind up said motor control line thereon.

References Cited in the file of this patent V v UNITED STATES PATENTS was 

1. WATER SKIING APPARATUS HAVING CONTROL MEANS, ADAPTED TO REGULATE THE PIVOTALLY MOUNTED OUTBOARD MARINE ENGINE POWER UNIT OF A POWER DRIVEN WATERCRAFT INCLUDING: A TRANSVERSE HANDLE BAR, ADAPTED TO BE HELD BY A WATER SKIER, OF FIXED DISTANCE RELATIVE TO SAID POWER UNIT; POWER CONTROL MEANS, HAVING A MOVABLE ELEMENT WHICH IN ITS MOST EXTENDED POSITION OPERATES TO STOP THE POWER UNIT, AND IN SUCCESSIVELY LESS EXTENDED POSITIONS OPERATES SUCCESSIVELY TO INCREASE THE POWER OF SAID POWER UNIT, SAID POWER CONTROL MEANS BEING MOUNTED AT THE PIVOT POINT OF SAID PIVOTALLY MOUNTED POWER UNIT A SPRING, FIXEDLY ATTACHED AT ITS INBOARD END TO THE POWER UNIT AND AT ITS OUTBOARD END TO THE POWER CONTROL MEANS, SAID SPRING URGING SAID POWER CONTROL MEANS TO ITS MOST EXTENDED POSITION; A CONTROL LINE FIXEDLY ATTACHED AT ITS OUTBOARD END TO THE PIVOT POINT OF SAID HANDLE BAR, SO THAT IT MAY BE WOUND THEREON, AND FIXEDLY ATTACHED AT ITS INBOARD END TO SAID POWER CONTROL MEANS. 